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The Effects of Maternity Leave Benefits on Mothers and Children. A Reexamination

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  • Lillebø, Otto Sevaldson

    (Nordic Institute for Studies in Innovation, Research, and Education)

  • Markussen, Simen

    (Ragnar Frisch Centre for Economic Research)

  • Røed, Knut

    (Ragnar Frisch Centre for Economic Research)

Abstract

We provide a full reexamination of the effects of a maternity leave extension implemented in Norway in 1977. Previous research reporting large favorable long-term effects on mothers' health and on offspring's educational and labor market outcomes relied on an incorrect description of the reform and an invalid identification strategy. In the present paper, we show that the previously reported results are misleading. Building on an accurate description of the reform and its implementation, we document that it had no noticeable long-term effects on mothers' health or on offspring's education and labor market outcomes.

Suggested Citation

  • Lillebø, Otto Sevaldson & Markussen, Simen & Røed, Knut, 2025. "The Effects of Maternity Leave Benefits on Mothers and Children. A Reexamination," IZA Discussion Papers 18193, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp18193
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Natalia Danzer & Victor Lavy, 2018. "Paid Parental Leave and Children's Schooling Outcomes," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 128(608), pages 81-117, February.
    2. Douglas Almond & Janet Currie & Valentina Duque, 2018. "Childhood Circumstances and Adult Outcomes: Act II," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 56(4), pages 1360-1446, December.
    3. Gordon B. Dahl & Katrine V. Løken & Magne Mogstad & Kari Vea Salvanes, 2016. "What Is the Case for Paid Maternity Leave?," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 98(4), pages 655-670, October.
    4. Krishna Regmi & Le Wang, 2025. "Baby steps to success? The impact of paid maternity leave on children’s long-term outcomes in the United States," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 38(2), pages 1-34, June.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C52 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Evaluation, Validation, and Selection
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy

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